Abstract

From our early stages of research on industrial logistics particularities of baked products distribution we concluded that the bakery industry in Romania is based on a management system that does not have enough scientific research in the industrial logistics field.

Managers have to make decisions based only on their own experience.

Our goal is to determine and write new algorithms that can improve the physical distribution of bakery products. A clear algorithm that correlates the production with the distribution process will be improving the company’s logistics management and reduce the costs.

The multitude of factors that influence the distribution of baked products raises the risk that the management decisions at current level will not be the most appropriate or efficient. Taking into account the diversity, complexity and specificity of the bakery industry, in this paper we conducted a theoretical study to identify the most widespread distribution channels in this industry, stating the factors that influence the physical distribution of bakery products. Four variants, representing a direct distribution channel and three indirect ones, analyzed in parallel, have led to the conclusion that the most complex distribution channel identified was the distribution by personal car, through daily delivery of the products on predetermined routes.

In a further stage, the identified factors with the highest competitiveness will play a key role in the final algorithm that enable managers in bakery industry to track and improve much faster the gaps in the distribution chain.